EE1 Laboratory: Diode Characteristics Objectives: Build a model of the circuit with an RC filter using Multisim LabView.

. Make simulations putting given values. Compare your result with the values derived in the pre-lab; Repeat procedure on a breadboard. Save graphs from oscilloscope. Aim: Describe rectifying properties of the diode using obtained results and graphs. Introduction. The circuit is presented in Fig.1.

Group A2

Fig. 1. Half-wave rectifier with an RC filter. The equipment used in the experiment: AC voltage source at 2 frequencies of 50 Hz and 100 Hz and with peak-to-peak amplitude of a sinusoid wave of 20 V, oscilloscope, breadboard, PC with installed Multisim LabView, diode, three capacitors with values of 50 F, 10 F, 1 F and a resistor 10 kOhm. Theory. The diode is forward-biased, so the resistance of it is assumed to be 0. The presence of an RC filter implies charge and discharge that it fills in the gaps between each peak. This reduces variations of voltage; this voltage variation is called ripple voltage. It is also shown on the Fig. 1. RC filter is applied for smoothing the pulsations of the ripple voltage. The equation for the peak-to-peak ripple voltage is presented (Vf the forward

voltage drop across the diode, Vm maximum voltage, R resistor, C capacitor, f- frequency). Another important expression is given for the average voltage at Vout: . Also, Vf=0. Method. Theoretical predictions and calculations for the experiment are provided in Table 1. Vr (f = 50 Hz) Vdc at Vout (50 Vr (f = 100 Vdc at Vout Hz) Hz) (100 Hz) C=50 F 0.4 V 9.8 V 0.2 V 9.9 V C=10 F 2V 9V 1V 9.5 V C=1 F 20 V 0V 10 V 5V Table 1. Pre-lab calculations. In the experiment plots are produced in two ways: using Multisim LabView and a breadboard. Both methods of building a circuit should in theory produce same results. The discussion will be provided further. Results and Discussion. The experimental results are provided in the Table 2 and 3. Vr (f = 50 Hz) Vdc at Vout (50 Vr (f = 100 Vdc at Vout (error %) Hz) Hz) (100 Hz) C=50 F 0.5 V (25%) 9.5 V (3.06%) 0.2 V (0%) 9.8 V (1.01%) C=10 F 2 V (0%) 8.9 V (1.11%) 1.5 V (50%) 9.8 V (3.16%) C=1 F 19 V (5%) 0.6 V (6%) 9.5 V (5%) 6 V (20%) Table 2. Obtained values from an oscilloscope. Vr (f = 50 Hz) Vdc at Vout (50 Vr (f = 100 Vdc at Vout Hz) Hz) (100 Hz) C=50 F 0.3 V (25%) 9.85 V 0.15 V 9.925 V (0.51%) (0.25%) (0.25%) C=10 F 2.5 V (25%) 8.75 V 1 V (0%) 9.5 V (0%) (2.78%) C=1 F 19.8 V (1%) 0.3 V (3%) 10 V (0%) 5 V (0%) Table 3. Obtained values from Multisim LabView. Due to the features of Multisim, which can only read rms values for both halfwave and full rectifiers, the amplitude (peak voltage) is not 10, it is 10/ . Nevertheless, such discrepancy will not affect on the analysis and the peak voltage is stated to be 10 and is calculated by the expression given above in Multisim. As a proof, we can compare all graphs and see that the values of ripple and dc voltage are very close to each other. Average error of an oscilloscope is equal to Meanwhile, To sum up, these errors are the indicators of practically correct experimental procedure and not perfect measurement of the result voltage. It is observed by calculation of two average errors that Multisim is 50% more precise than oscilloscope. It can be explained by the fact that software simulation has not as many inaccuracies as a real experiment has. Throughout the experiment the

rectifying properties of the diode are smoothed by the RC filter, which makes pulsations of the ripple voltage smaller and smaller. It can be noted that larger value of the capacitor makes the ripple voltage decrease correspondingly. Also, 2RC>T condition for the filter is also observed which confirms the process of half-wave rectifying. Finally, the sources of error could be human factor (hand measurements), presence of internal resistance of elements in the circuit and also tolerance of the capacitor. For the f = 50 Hz and C=50 F graphs are presented below.

Fig. 2 . Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 50 Hz and C=50 F.

Fig. 3. Plot from LabView at f = 50 Hz and C=50 F.

Analyzing these graphs provides us with conclusion that Vr is very small, smaller than 1 V. Thus, it coincides with the theoretical prediction where Vr= 0.4 V. For the f = 50 Hz and C=10 F graphs are presented below.

Fig. 4. Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 50 Hz and C=10 F.

Fig. 5. Plot from LabView at f = 50 Hz and C=10 F. For the f = 50 Hz and C=1 F graphs are presented below.

Fig. 6. Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 50 Hz and C=1 F.

Fig. 7. Plot from LabView at f = 50 Hz and C=1 F. The next part of graphs is made at 100 Hz frequency.

Fig.8 Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 100 Hz and C=50 F.

Fig. 9. Plot from LabView at f = 100 Hz and C=50 F.

Fig.10. Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 100 Hz and C=10 F.

Fig. 11. Plot from LabView at f = 100 Hz and C=10 F.

Fig.12. Plot from the oscilloscope at f = 100 Hz and C=1 F.

Fig. 13. Plot from LabView at f = 100 Hz and C=1 F.